Painter and teacher, born in Manchester, whose work had a Surrealist tinge. He was interested in ruins and derelict machinery. Oakley attended Queen’s University, Belfast, 1943–4, then Slade School of Fine Art, 1948–52, in 1951 winning the Wilson Steer Medal, the year after he was at the British School in Florence. After teaching in Cumberland he was senior lecturer in painting at Ulster College of Art and Design, 1962–74, then joined staff of Newcastle upon Tyne Polytechnic. Exhibitions included Crane Gallery in Manchester, Carlisle Art Gallery, Tom Caldwell Galleries in Dublin and Belfast and University Theatre, Newcastle. He won first prize in Singer & Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Competition in 1999. Brighton and Carlisle Art Galleries and Arts Council of Northern Ireland hold examples.